30G Calls at Gardens and JWrseries. 



ers, one for the cultivation of geraniums alone. It is useless to pretend 

 to grow geraniums to any degree of jjerfection in an ordinary green- 

 house, mixed in with all sorts of plants; the great abundance of air 

 which they require, and the necessity of placing them near the glass, 

 both of which cannot be done in a green-house filled with other plants, 

 are obstacles to their healthy growth, when in such a situation. Mr. 

 Hogg has set the example, having for a long time kept his collection 

 in a house adapted to their growth; and Mr, Thorburn is now follow- 

 ing his example. New York may, therefore, be said to lead in the cul- 

 tivation of the geranium, which, as yet, has received but slight attention 

 at the hands of amateurs or nurserymen around Boston. Mr. Thor- 

 burn has a superb collection of plants, and, with the additions which he 

 has made the past spring, it will equal if not excel any other in the coun- 

 try. Several of the new kinds we noticed in bloom, but did not have 

 an opportunity to note down their names. Messrs. Dennis & Co. have 

 sent Mr. Thorburn all their finest ones. 



We found Mr. Macintosh, the gardener, making great preparations 

 for setting out dahlias; he had already planted upwards of two thou- 

 sand; and it is the intention of Mr. Thorburn to set out upwards often 

 thousand plants. The pressure of the times has affected the business of 

 the nurseryman as well as other trades, and the demand for dahlias has 

 been exceedingly limited; consequently a greater number remain on 

 hand. One of the greatest displays may be anticipated that was ever 

 made in this countrj^, as Mr. Thorburn's collection embraces nearly all 

 the fine ones which have come out in England this season. 



In the garden the roses were in full bloom, which is about a fortnight 

 sooner than they flower in the vicinity of Boston. A bed of double 

 dwarf rocket larkspurs, from seeds sown in the fall, made a magnifi- 

 cent display, some of the spikes being a foot in length. We would not 

 have those of our readers, who appreciate this plant, forget to sow the 

 seeds the coming fall. It is one of the most showy annuals. The 

 plants were all removed from the green-house and stove, with the ex- 

 ception of a few geraniunis, and but little of interest was to be seen. 



Noe ^- Boll's, &h Avenue. — Jiine 22c?. We found the fine collection 

 of roses here in full bloom, although the height of their beauty was 

 past. We have before mentioned, in speaking of this place, (p. 124,) 

 that it contained one of the best collections of roses in the country. 

 What is remarkable is, that not any of the tree roses were destroyed 

 by the severity of the winter, while in the vicinity of Boston they were 

 nearly all destroyed, both stock and scion. That the winters have 

 a much more severe effect on vegetation around Boston than in New 

 York there is not the least doubt; for we have repeatedly seen so many 

 evidences of it ourselves, that we are wholly satisfied in this respect. 

 Many plants which in the former place need entire protection, live in 

 the latter without the least whatever. In the garden of Mr. Panton, 

 in the city, MagnoU'a conspicua has stood out upwards of six j'ears, and 

 has produced a great number of flowers for the last two or three sea- 

 si)ns; it has never been injured in the least. We have also noticed the 

 Wistaria Consequana, which has stood out here, (p. 274.) In New 

 York the roses were only protected with a little straw around the tops. 

 But such protection would be of no use whatever around Boston; cover- 

 ing both the stock and grafts with three or four inches of leaves, hay, or 

 strawy manure, is the least which can be done with a certainty of in- 

 suring them safe from the effects of the severe weather. 



But to return to the roses. Some of the finest of the hardy ones 

 were the crested moss, white moss, flesh colored moss, ])erpetual Lodo- 

 iska, Madame Hardy, and belle Faber; the crested moss was particu- 

 larly splendid, having a very singular crested appendage attached to the 



